Transparent dial guard wiper



June 15, 1954 c; J. MITCHELL TRANSPARENT DIAL GUARDJWIPER Filed Nov. 2,1951 INVENTOR. 04 94 J M/ ram-1L BY M "*4 W ,4 TI'OPA/EVJ' Patented June15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

- This invention relates to a cleaning device for transparent meter-dialguards.

More particularly, my invention relates to a device providing a wiperfor the inside surface of a transparent guard disposed over the dial ofa water meter in order to remove frost, moisture or any visionobstructing deposit which may be present on the inside surface of such aguard. While this invention relates primarily to the foregoing, it maybe used in association with other devices having transparent guards fordials or the like.

Especially during the winter seasons, water meter transparent guardsbecome coated with a fog-like mist or deposit and this obstructs visionof the indicia on the dial of the meter. So

troublesome has this condition become at times,

that meter readers often break the glass guard so they can read themeter. with the consequent loss of a guard for the meter parts.

Due to the many millions of water meters now in operation, it isimpractical to provide a device which cannot be used on existing meters.

The present invention is designed to obviate the before-mentionedproblems and to facilitate the r a i of water meters.

A further object of this invention is to produce a guard cleaner Whichmay be easily applied to existing meters and economically and rapidlyinstalled on the same.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a guard cleaner whichmay be economically produced as well as economically installed.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device which may beeconomically replaced in case of wear or damage.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as thedescription of the same proceeds, and the invention will be besunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of thespecification, with the understanding, however, that the invention isnot to be limited to the exact details of construction shown anddescribed since obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in theart.

In the following drawings like reference nu merals will indicate likeparts.

Figure 1 is a view in planof a typical water meter dial equipped with adevice embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section with parts in elevation of theconstruction shown in Fig. 3 is a view in plan similar to Fig. 1 ofdevices of my inventi n adapted to a different type water meter dial;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a device of my inventionin connection with a dial guard;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a still further modified form ofmy invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a still further modified form ofmy invention.

In the drawings, l0 designates the meter casing; II, the retainer ringfor the 'transparent guard [5; I3, the dial to indicate tenths of acubic foot, and M the cubic feet indicators which parts are ofconventional type and need not be described in detail. It is to beunderstoodthat these parts may be of any ordinary construction. It isthe purpose of this invention to clean the inside surface of differenttypes of meter or dial guards, which dial guards are generally made ofglass and at times they are made of a transparent plastic. Also the dialguards are round or rectangular.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings the meter dial guard I5 isprovided with a recess I6 which is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive asbeing of triangular shape. A wiper arm fulcrum is composed of an upperportion IT, a lower portion I8, and a mid-portion I9. The mid-portion l9interfits snugly with the recess I 6, andthe upper and lower portions I1and I8 overlie and seal against the upper and lower marginal portions,forming the recess l6. Also, the mid-portion H! at the outside completesthe periphery of the guard l5. The outside portion of the upper andlower portions l1 and 18 do not extend outwardly the same as themid-portion l9 so as to permit the retaining ring II to be properlypositioned which isbest shown in Figs. 2 and 4'.

The means to mount and permit turning of the wiper blade 20 preferablycomprises a continuous piece of wire having a U-shaped portion M, whichpermits the Wire assembly to function as a spring urging the wiper blade20 against the inside surface of the guard I5; a lever portion 22 whichmay be grasped to angularly move the wiper blade 20; a portion l2disposed at right angles to the portion 22, which functions as afulcrum; and wiper engaging portion 23. The wiper engaging portion 23 ispreferably parallel to the lever portion 22 and extends through thewiper blade 20 and is secured thereto as by crimping the outer end ofthe wiper engaging portion The mid-portion 29 has a guard .21 :formingthe recess 23 against portions of blade therebetween. The blade 20 maybe formed of felt, rubber, or other usual material employed in wiperblades.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown two devices of my inventionemployed in connection with a meter dial wherein a single wiper bladewill not produce the desirable vision. As the wipers may .beidentical tothose mentioned in connectionwith Figs. 1, 2, and 4, similar .parts aregiven similar numbers. As the dial face is different, the same isnumbered 24. Also as the transparent guard has two wedge shaped ortriangular openings, the same E'is numbered 25.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings, .a modification of my inventionis shown. Here a rectangular recess 26 is employed inthe .transparentguard 21. The wiper and wire assembly may be the same as shown in theprevious'ilgures and hence said parts are given the same num- .bers1asthey were given in the previous figures. The wiper arm fulcrum is made*to interfitwith the rectangular recess 26 and hence, the parts thereofare given different numbers. The said wiper arm fulcrum comprises an:upper portion 28, a mid-portion 29, and a lower portion 530. widthsufficient to snugly interfit and fill the recess 26. It has :a .lengthwhich is sufficient to complete the periphcry of the transparent guard'21. The upper .portion 28 and thelower ,portion 30 each overlie andseal against-the'adjacent top and bottom .marginal portionsrespectivelyzof the transparent 26 and they are of a length shorterthan-the mid-portion 29 so that theretaining ring I I will cause acomplete seal similar :to that described in connection with Figs. .1 -to'4 inclusive.

Referring now to Fig. 6 .of the-drawing .a still further modified formof -my invention :15 .shown. Here, a recess 3| has a form wherein theside walls .thereof are substantially ,parallel and the .end wall -issubstantially semi-circular. :Again, the wiper and wire assembly .may:be the same as those shown in the previous figures and hence, the parts.are given the samenumbers-as in .prev- :rous .figures. The wiper armfulcrum is .made tolinterfit the recess 3I and-said wiper .arm fulcrumcomprises an upper portion 32, a vrnidpor- -tion-33, .andta lowerportion-34. The mid-portion as .has a width sufficient to .snugly.interfit with the -.-side walls forming the recess 3-! and said'midportion 33 terminates in a rounded inner end portion so that theopening 33 .is .snugly rfilled. Also, saidmid-portion v33 has .a length.so

that one end thereof completes the periphery of the transparentguard.35. The upper portion '32 and the lower portion 34 each overlie andseal .against the marginal top and bottom portions respectively of thetransparent guard 35 forming the recess 3| and again they are of ashorter vlength than'th'e mid portion 33 so that the retainingring l I'willcause a complete seal similar to'tha't described in connection withthe previous figures.

Referring now to Fig. 7 of the-drawingsa still "further modified form ofmy invention is shown. Arecess 33 is provided in the transparent guard34 and the recess 36 has two substantially parallel "side walls 38 and39. The circular'wall .40 may "be more than one-half a circle providingthat sleeve 41 is made of a compressible material as rubber. Thus, thesleeve 4i may be urged :between the sidewalls '38 and 39 and will snuglyfill the opening provided in part by the circular #end wall 40. As "thewiper and wire :-assembly may be the same as those shown in the previousfigures, the said parts are given the same number as they were given inthe previous figures.

Preferably, the ferrule 4| is of rubber and is employed so that we willnot have metal against glass or against a transparent plastic material.Also, the sleeve 4| preferably sealed on the in- .side against wireportion .12 .and .on the outside against the recess formed adjacent theend wall 40.

The wiper arm fulcrum is made to interfit with the recess 36 andcomprises an upper portion 42, ainid portion 43, and a lower portion 44.At their inner end portions, each of the portions 4"I,-42,-'and-43 isprovided with an arcuate recess 4510f asize'tobe .urged about the sleeve4|, thus forming a seal thereagainst. The mid-portion '43 *is of "a sizeto snugly fill the recess 38 except that portion which is filled by thesleeve 4! and :is of a length 'so .as to acomplete the periphery of thetransparent -guard .31. The-upperpmztion :42 *and thelower :portion 44each :overlie :andiseal against the top and bottom marginal portionsrespectively of the transparentgguard 31 forming the recess 36 :and theyagain are of a shorter length than the mid-portion 4-3 .so that the "re-'taining ring -l I will .cause the seal similar -to .that described inconnection with the previous figures. The circular contour .Qf theexternal ,periphery of the portions '42 .and 44 is for appearance.

In the foregoing various modifications .of my invention .1 .have 'ineach instance illustrated a transparent guard-of circular shape,however, it will be readily apparent that :the circular shape is ofno-great moment and any devices canreasily .be-used in connection withrectangular tor=other "shaped transparent rguards.

Also, in each instance the upper and lower portions, as I! and .18,forming :a fulcrum .for the wiper are:of .-a shape .to complete theperiphery of the guard against .the casing 41). Thus, adouble-sealagainstthecasing lfl isformed-one by .a mid-portion .as l9,and .one .by the upper .and lower portions, .as 41 .and 1.8. The .upperand lower portions, as .l] and .[8,.overlie the mar- ;ginal;p0rti0ns ofa guard,.a-s l5, forming a recess, as 16, toforma seal .and to preventdisplacement of the wiper -mechanism.

From the foregoing it is obvious that .Ihave .provideda transparent.guard having a recess at .an .edge portion thereof. Also, Ihaveprovided a substantially .U -shaped wiper arm having the side legsthereof disposed respectively above and below .the-transparentguard andwith themiddle leg thereof passing through said recess. Thave ,provided,a wiper blade carried by the side l'e'g which .is .disposed below thesaid transparent guard. Also, I -have provided "a "fulcrum formingdevice which is disposed-.onthe middle'legofsaid substantially vU-shaped.member .and saidfflilcrum .forming device comprises .or includestherein a mid-portion which .interfits with said .recess in saidtransparent guard. .Preferahly, thesaid ful- .crum forming device.comprises top and bottom portions which overlie and seal against themarginal portions of the transparent guide which form said recess. Thesaid recesses in the edge portion of the transparent guard may 'b'eof"various forms such as a wedge-shaped recessa-rectangul'ar shapedrecess, and *a recess having substantially parallel sidewalls whichterminate in :a substantially semi-circular end wall. Also,.Iunay employza:-sleeve about themid portion of the U- shaped member. sAlso,aprefierably the .leg (if :the U-shaped member which is disposed above:the

transparent guard is bent against itself and engages the guard, so thatspring tension is provided urging the wiper blade against the under sideof the transparent guard.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, andarrangements of the parts of my invention Without departing from theprinciple thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms ofembodiment of my invention.

I claim:

1. A combination transparent guard and wiper therefore for use in awater meter having a retaining ring disposed below the guard for holdingthe guard in place comprising a transparent guard having a recess at anedg portion thereof and which recess extends to said edge; asubstantially U-shaped wiper arm having the side legs thereof disposedrespectively above and below the transparent guard and the middle legthereof passing through said recess; a wiper blade carried by one ofsaid side legs of said U- shaped arm and disposed below the saidtransparent guard; and a fulcrum forming and sealing device having anopening therethrough receiving said middle leg of said U-shaped wiperarm, said fulcrum forming device being formed of rubber and comprising amid-portion of a size'to snugly interfit with the said recess in saidguard and to extend outwardly to the said edge of said guard, and twoouter portions of a size to overlie the side edges of the recess in saidguard and to terminate short of the side edge of said guard to seal theedges of said opening and to permit the retaining ring to extend aroundthe edges of the guard and to contact the guard at the location of thefulcrum forming device.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said recess in said guard is wedgeshaped.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said recess is of rectangularshape.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the said walls forming the recessare substantially parallel and terminate in a substantiallysemi-circular end wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

